Jackal Among Snakes

Chapter 557

“By rights, I should call the guards and have you cast into prison, tortured.” Zen carefully placed a bookmark into his book and set it aside.

“Do it,” Elenore said inside his head.

“I’m not telling him to ‘do it,’” Stain replied to her as he stared steadfastly. When he opened his mouth to respond to Zen, he said instead, “You’d at least like to hear us out, right?”

Zen tapped his book with one finger. “I hear a lot either way.”

Stain’s gut swirled with nervousness, but Elenore said, “You imbecile. I hope your parents are siblings, otherwise there’s no justification for such continual stupidity. Say. Do. It.”

“Do it,” Stain said.

Governor Zen smiled, and stroked his wispy goatee. “You’re loyal enough to them to suffer that?”

“You should look out across the pond. Then, just say that this way is faster for the both of you.”

Stain very nearly said ‘look out across the pond.’ He tied his tongue in time, then looked out into the pond sagely and repeated, “This way’s faster for the both of us.”

“And doesn’t necessarily preclude the other.” Zen stopped tapping the book. “But I can’t be disloyal to the imperial court. You understand, they have ways of… keeping people in line. Sending people like yourself to people. Hounds, to sniff.”

Stain stared in silence, waiting for Elenore’s direction. After a long moment of indecision, she finally commanded, “Take away your blessing in front of him.”

“He’ll know my ability. If he knows, and he’s not with us, the whole imperial court could know. If the imp—”

“It’s a calculated risk,” Elenore interrupted. “And done with the king’s approval. Even if the imperial court learns of you, they can’t truly do anything but be more cautious.”

And what about my safety? Stain stared without saying anything. He stalled for time, asking, “You think I’m a hound?”

“I didn’t say that,” Zen said.

Meanwhile, Stain demanded of Elenore, “He thinks I’m a hound. I deserve a treat. Give me a seat on parliament, and a title.”

“Parliament?” Elenore’s voice was sharp. “You don’t have time to—”

“I can have someone fill it, just give me a seat.”

with only silence. Zen observed Stain and noted, “You’re awfully

debating the quality of the answer I should provide,” Stain reassured Zen while he waited for response

name you the Baron of Crenshaw,”

both Stain’s mind and

Elenore offered grandly.

this would best suffice as answer,” Stain said with a smile, then withdrew his blessing.

#####

out Stain’s conversation with Governor Zen. Argrave kept repeating, “You’ve gotta admit, he’s earned it,” and “Who else could do what he’s done?”

what are

and ask questions that need to be asked,” Elenore said, and Stain recited it well. Sometimes he could be agreeable. Other

back on his hands. “I was expecting some contact. But I wasn’t expecting it so quickly, nor from someone like you. I thought they’d come at the emperor’s direction, if he was still alive.

emperor’s alive,” Elenore

surprised. “Did he ask about his children?

“Not even once.”

knowing expression. “So, you know him. Or knew him, if you’re lying and he’s dead. I’d ask for further proof, but any you give me could be fabricated. We’ll proceed with the assumption he is alive, and you

depends. Are you the hound

know that it has been stolen. Report the

nose. “I imagine they’d rather like if I

Argrave or Elenore that this was a

Zen continued. “What’s

Stain recited. “Restoring the

he deliberated over what to say. Elenore couldn’t say how he’d gotten the picture, but then maybe it was

“You did.”

my grandchildren. From birth, they’ve had

the emperor and empress, aren’t they?” Elenore

afford such a thing. You might deem me a hypocrite considering I was the one who arranged for their lives to be as such, yet the Zen family… the Zen family is tightly knit. My daughters, my

remind, “Conveniently, the emperor is your

Zen shook his head. “He’s not a

father of your grandchildren,” Elenore pressed the point, and Stain complied,

I assumed governorship, Zen became the family name. Technically, my name would be ‘Zen Zen.’ That lends itself rather well to a metaphor. I am Zen, yet at the same time, the whole family is Zen. They’re

have

in the emperor is ensuring my grandchildren have a father—nothing more, nothing less.” He pointed. “I sent that ballista with my message for a reason. Not to help the emperor, but to help you. To help… well, perhaps

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